Pools tips for weekend of January 11-12

 Ten draws: Bristol City v Wolves, Middlesbrough v Blackburn, Preston v Charlton, Reading v Burnley, Sunderland v Stoke, Wimbledon v Cheltenham, Gillingham v Fleetwood, Grimsby v Notts County, Aberdeen v Hearts, Annan v Inverness/

Best draws: Bristol City v Wolves, Preston v Charlton, Reading v Burnley, Sunderland v Stoke, Gillingham v Fleetwood.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Oxford, Barnsley, Bolton, Huddersfield, MK Dons, Crewe. Ten homes: Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Ipswich, Leyton Orient, Norwich, Southampton, Port Vale, Walsall, Barnet.

Pick of the draws: Wolves, fighting relegation, lost 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Monday. On Saturday they face a tricky FA Cup third-round tie at Championship team Bristol City, who often deliver the goods at home. Preston, mid-table in the Championship, have drawn on 12 occasions this season and I've a feeling they'll have to settle for another stalemate after 90 minutes against League One Charlton, who are improving. Reading, in the hunt for promotion from League One, host Championship promotion contenders Burnley, who have let in only nine league goals this season. This has all the making of a tight affair. Stoke have not conceded in the Championship since Mark Robins was appointed manager and it won't surprise me if they force extra time in their visit to high-flying Sunderland. Gillingham, of League Two, have sacked manager Mark Bonner after their slump and could be held by Fleetwood, who are three points behind them.

Away days: New Oxford manager Gary Rowett has wasted no time in galvanising the Championship side and I expect them to reach the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of Exeter, from League One. Barnsley's fine away record is the main reason they are in the League One play-off positions and I believe they will continue their good form on the road at Northampton. Goals in the closing minutes earned Bolton a creditable 2-1 victory at Exeter last Saturday and they can also succeed at Rotherham. Huddersfield extended their long unbeaten record to 15 matches by beating second-placed Wycombe 1-0 away in midweek and they are recommended at Shrewsbury, who are third from bottom. MK Dons, of League Two, seem more comfortable away and will travel to struggling Carlisle with confidence. Consecutive home wins over Carlisle (3-2) and Bromley (4-1) have put promotion contenders Crewe in great heart for their trip to Swindon, who are too close to the drop zone for comfort.

Homes sweet homes: Leyton Orient, climbing quickly in League One, have a fair chance of causing an FA Cup third-round upset when they host Derby, who are toiling in the Championship. Norwich, mid-table in the second tier, are worth a wager against Brighton, who are eight games without a win in the Premier League. Southampton, rock bottom in the top flight, should be able to relax a bit more in the FA Cup and can go through against Championship team Swansea.

Pools info: Hamilton v Partick (No.45 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday night and is therefore void. A void match is worth two points. 

 

Pools tips for weekend of January 4-5

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Leicester, Crystal Palace v Chelsea, Blackburn v Burnley, Stoke v Plymouth, Watford v Sheffield United, Charlton v Reading, Lincoln v Stevenage, Bradford City v Grimsby, Cheltenham v Walsall, MK Dons v Salford.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Leicester, Crystal Palace v Chelsea, Blackburn v Burnley, Watford v Sheffield United, Charlton v Reading.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Dundee. 

Ten homes: Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sunderland, Barnsley, Cambridge, Leyton Orient, Wrexham, Colchester, Doncaster.

Pick of the draws: Relegation-threatened Leicester were unlucky to lose 2-0 at home to Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend and will feel they have a chance at Aston Villa, who are not living up to their early-season promise. Chelsea's form has dipped recently with defeats by Fulham (2-1, home) and Ipswich (2-0, away), whereas their lowly hosts, Crystal Palace, are now playing better. There's no love lost between Blackburn and Burnley in the Championship. These bitter Lancashire rivals are in the vanguard for promotion to the top flight and I think they will cancel each other out. Consecutive defeats against Cardiff (home) and Queens Park Rangers (away) have halted Watford's progress and they will be determined to make amends against high-flying Sheffield United, who also flopped over Christmas. Charlton v Reading is a clash between on-form League One sides with promotion aspirations and possibly the most likely three-pointer on the coupon.

Away days: Second-placed Arsenal will not let up in their pursuit of Premier League leaders Liverpool and maximum points at Brighton on Saturday should just about keep them in contention. Brentford have a great opportunity to improve their dismal away record when they visit rock-bottom Southampton. It's hard to back against fast-climbing Newcastle at the moment and they must be confident going to Tottenham, who are moving in the opposite direction. Leeds, the Championship leaders, will surely be too strong for struggling Hull. Birmingham, top of League One, paid the price for fielding a weakened team in their home goalless draw with Blackpool last Sunday. I can't see the manager making the same mistake at Wigan, where the Midlanders ought to collect three points. Dundee, who won 2-1 at St Mirren in their previous away game in the Scottish Premiership, will fancy themselves at St Johnstone, who are bottom.

Homes sweet homes: Although Cambridge are in the League One relegation zone, they are in better shape than their visitors Bristol Rovers, who are just outside it. Colchester's revival in League Two has not gone unnoticed and I expect their improvement to continue against Accrington, who are desperately trying to avoid the drop. I'm also tipping Doncaster to overcome fellow promotion contenders Port Vale, who have suddenly hit the wall. 

Pools info: Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Coventry v Millwall, Colchester v Doncaster and MK Dons v Crewe. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 28-29

Ten draws: Coventry v Millwall, Oxford v Plymouth, Swansea v Luton, Bolton v Lincoln, Reading v Mansfield, Rotherham v Stockport, Bradford City v Chesterfield, Cheltenham v Notts County, Colchester v Doncaster, MK Dons v Crewe.

Best draws: Coventry v Millwall, Swansea v Luton, Reading v Mansfield, Colchester v Doncaster, MK Dons v Crewe.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Wolves, Liverpool, Leeds, Sunderland. Ten homes: Arsenal (Friday), Watford, Birmingham, Charlton, Huddersfield, Leyton Orient, Shrewsbury, Carlisle, Salford, Arbroath.

Pick of the draws: Coventry manager Frank Lampard is having problems turning their season around, as was evident when his team crashed 4-1 at Portsmouth in the Championship last Saturday. Millwall, their opponents on Sunday, have conceded less than a goal a game. If Luton were as good on their travels as they are at home, they would be higher in the Championship table. Having said that, they can come away with something at Swansea, who are erratic. Mansfield, after an unexpected barren spell, are back on track in League One and will test a Reading side challenging for the play-offs. Colchester have one of the meanest defences in League Two, which should serve them well against promotion contenders Doncaster. MK Dons, who are scoring goals for fun, host Crewe, who give very little away. 

Away days: As Nottingham Forest, riding high in the Premier League, have already won at Liverpool and Manchester United this season, they won't feel apprehensive about going to goal-shy Everton on Sunday. A trip to relegation-threatened Leicester has given Manchester City a golden opportunity to return to winning ways. Wolves' 3-0 victory at Leicester last Sunday was a huge boost as they try to avoid the drop and they are well worth a punt at Tottenham, who are hindered by injuries and a leaky defence. Liverpool, firm favourites for the title, cannot be ignored at West Ham and it will be surprising if second-placed Leeds don't collect three Championship points at Derby. Sunderland, like Leeds aiming for automatic promotion, are recommended at Stoke, who failed miserably against 10-man Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday.

Homes sweet homes: Promotion-seeking Wycombe in League One have lost only twice this season but they could be on the wrong end of an upset at Charlton, who woke up to win 5-0 at Northampton last weekend. Bottom-of-the table Shrewsbury fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Wigan last Saturday.  I believe they'll go one better against Northampton, who lie just outside the relegation zone. Carlisle,  bottom in League Two, held promotion favourites Port Vale to an away goalless draw last Saturday. Another good result against fellow strugglers Accrington will help them in their battle to stay in the Football League.

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 21-22

 Ten draws: Brentford v Nottingham Forest, Ipswich v Newcastle, West Ham v Brighton, Millwall v Blackburn, Plymouth v Middlesbrough, Burton v Exeter, Northampton v Charlton, Barrow v Fleetwood, Chesterfield v Wimbledon, Ross v St Mirren.

Best draws: Brentford v Nottingham Forest, West Ham v Brighton, Millwall v Blackburn, Burton v Exeter, Chesterfield v Wimbledon.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Wrexham, Salford, Walsall, Partick, Gateshead. 

Ten homes: Fulham, Leeds, Portsmouth, Queens Park Rangers, Wigan, Doncaster, Port Vale, Hearts, Peterhead, Rochdale.

Pick of the draws: Brentford are exceptional on their own patch, with seven Premier League wins out of eight this season, but Nottingham Forest, with victories over Manchester United (3-2, away) and Aston Villa (2-1, home), have shown they are a threat to the top four and can get something here. Brighton's recent results have been disappointing, so West Ham, nothing special themselves, have a chance of taking a point. The unexpected resignation of manager Neil Harris is a blow to Millwall. They would rather not be facing Blackburn, who are playing well and have climbed into the Championship play-off positions. Despite looking favourites to be relegated from League One, Burton have not thrown in the towel, as they showed with a battling goalless draw at Leyton Orient last Saturday. I believe they'll give mi-table Exeter a harder game than expected. Chesterfield v Wimbledon is probably the most attractive fixture in League Two. These promotion contenders had good victories last weekend - Chesterfield 2-0 at Carlisle, Wimbledon 1-0 at home to Doncaster - and it's hard to separate them.

Away days: Chelsea have become the biggest danger to Premier League leaders Liverpool. They have won their last five league games and will want to maintain the pressure by taking maximum points at Everton. Although Wrexham have slipped out of the League One automatic promotion places, they should be too strong for Bristol Rovers, who are one place above the drop zone. In-form Salford have moved into the top half of League Two and will be aiming for another three points at lowly Accrington. Leaders Walsall will also fancy their chances at struggling Harrogate. I'm taking Partick to increase the agony of rock bottom Airdrie in the Scottish Championship and in the National League, I cannot ignore free-scoring promotion hopefuls Gateshead, who visit last-placed Ebbsfleet.

Homes sweet homes: Everything went wrong for Portsmouth when losing 4-0 at Derby in the Championship last Friday but I've a hunch they'll put things right against Coventry, who have had mixed results since the sacking of manager Mark Robins. There seemed no hope for Queens Park Rangers a few weeks ago but they are now clear of the Championship relegation zone and in the mood to move higher up the table by beating Preston. I'm backing Hearts, bottom of the Scottish Premiership, to record only their fourth league win of the season when they host fellow strugglers St Johnstone.

Pools info: I'll file my pools tips and best bets for the weekend of December 28-29 on Christmas Eve.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 14-15

Ten draws: Newcastle v Leicester, Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa, Norwich v Burnley, Swansea v Sunderland, Watford v West Bromwich, Bromley v Port Vale, Grimsby v Crewe, Kilmarnock v Hearts.

Best draws: Newcastle v Leicester, Swansea v Sunderland, Watford v West Bromwich, Bromley v Port Vale, Grimsby v Crewe.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Leeds, Wycombe, Stockport, Chesterfield, Clyde, York. 

Ten homes: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Wolves, Sheffield United, Birmingham, Leyton Orient, Colchester, Walsall, Hibernian.

Pick of the draws: Leicester have perked up since Ruud van Nistelrooy's appointment as manager and are now five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone. They can frustrate Newcastle, who seem to take one step forward and two back. Sunderland have slipped out of the automatic promotion places and face a tricky assignment at Swansea, who won 2-1 at Plymouth in midweek and have climbed into the top half of the Championship table. West Bromwich are the Championship's draw specialists, ending level on 11 occasions. They have a good chance of adding to their tally at Watford, who are at a similar level. Port Vale were knocked off the top of League Two when they lost 1-0 at home to fellow promotion challengers Walsall last Saturday. Port Vale visit Bromley, who are adapting well to a higher division and have also reached the FA Cup third round. Grimsby, who are stronger in attack, meet Crewe, who are defensively more secure. 

Away days: Leeds, flying high in the Championship, look an away banker at Preston, whose 2-0 victory at Cardiff in midweek was their first win in 11 matches. Table-topping Wycombe have been the surprise package in League One and are also highly recommended at Shrewsbury, who are bottom. Stockport, aiming for consecutive promotions, will be hungry for three more points at mid-table Stevenage. Chesterfield, promoted last season and just outside the League Two play-off places, will fancy themselves at Carlisle, who are last. In Scottish League Two, I've a hunch that Clyde, who are eighth and beat Peterhead 3-2 at home last weekend, will defeat seventh-placed Spartans, who lost 3-1 at home to Stranraer in midweek. I'm tipping York, the National League leaders, to triumph at Tamworth, despite the latter's giant-killing feats in the FA Cup.

Homes sweet homes: At home to fellow Premier League strugglers Ipswich on Saturday, is a must-win game for Wolves and their beleaguered manager Gary O'Neil. Wolves have been on the wrong end of too many controversial refereeing decisions this season and are due a change of fortune. Colchester are climbing League Two after a difficult start to the season and are worth backing against Newport, who are going in the opposite direction. Hibernian have an opportunity to move off the foot of the Scottish Premiership by defeating Ross County and will be disappointed if they waste it.